Scraping sound

Thank you for eradicating my ignorance. I hadn't seen a tonearm that requires a scale as the only means to set VTF. I guess I don't get out enough. I have seen and heard VPI tables and arms before; but didn't get into the details of their set-up. I agree then, it might be good to have a back up scale for verification if you do not have a means to calibrate your primary scale.

There are a few, but not many I think, that require a scale. You are correct, and I agree, that most tonearms I have seen have a built-in scale of some sort for adjusting VTF

I've recently experienced this unpleasant sound. In my case, the cause was a defective motor housing.

I always set my VTF using a scale. There is too much variance in eyeballing to be 100% certain the arm is initially “floating” perfectly horizontally. The older I get, the less I trust my eyes for geometric challenges. On the subject of scales, the good old fashioned balance scales never go out of calibration unlike electronic scales with sensors.